From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Cure for squeaking thick leaf springs by radiusing the leaf edges.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\4\ scan0211 | |
| Date | 30th September 1921 | |
| Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Br. {T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} c. to CJ. c. to R. {Sir Henry Royce} X.3745 Br1/H30.9.21. RE SQUEAKING OF THICK LEAF SPRINGS. X.2628 X.3745 I have this morning received a copy of Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 2/LG28.9.21. concerning the above. I am interested to see this criticisms, but at the same time I am afraid that I cannot agree with the remarks contained therein. I did not report the cure that we had managed to effect until after several months of trial, and I quoted a case of Lord Northcliffe's car No.111 FW. In this case we formed a radius on the bottom edge of the leaves of the springs. They were of course at the same time well greased and the gaiters refitted. I am told by the chauffeur that from that time until recently, when the car again came into our hands, it had travelled approximately 10,000 miles, and certainly the springs did not squeak. I took it, of course, that it would be understood that at the same time that the spring leaves were radiused, they were well greased, and if gaiters were fitted, these would also be packed with grease, and I do claim that after this has been carried out, the springs last as long as any other type of spring which we have fitted, without squeaking. I may add that I have approached several customers upon whose cars I have carried out this improvement, and each one has expressed satisfaction. Br. {T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} | ||